Colville Express

Neil Colville was a celebrated junior hockey player in his hometown of Edmonton when the New York Rangers discovered him. The Rangers sent original Ranger Murray Murdoch, a western Canadian hockey legend who grew up close to Edmonton, out west to sign Neil. He was given permission to sign brother Mac Colville too, if that is what it took to get Neil to New York.

The rest as they say is history. After some minor league seasoning, the Colvilles and fellow western Canadian Alex Shibicky formed one of the greatest lines in the N.H.L.'s six-team era, anchoring the Rangers 1940 Stanley Cup championship. Known as the Bread Line, the three were groomed by Lester Patrick, who orchestrated the Ranger clubs that won Stanley Cups in the late 20's and early 30's, to follow in the footsteps of the Cook brothers and Frank Boucher.

Full Neil Colville and Mac Colville biographies.